Sonic the Hedgehog #157

Shadow the Hedgehog commands the entire cover of this 2006 Archie entry in "The World's Most Way Past Cool Comic," standing in a brooding three-quarter pose against a smoldering red and grey backdrop, his black-and-red quills and gold-ringed wrists rendered with striking intensity by cover artist Patrick Spaziante. The bold tagline "Shadow Returns" leaves little doubt that this fan-favorite rival hedgehog is stepping back into the spotlight in a big way. Paired with the interior story "System Shutdown" — crafted by writer Ken Penders, artist Ron Lim, and inker Jim Amash — issue #157 looks like a genuinely compelling chapter in the long-running Sonic saga.